My Plan
Rhythms
Rhythms from Mali and Guinea and some of my compositions.
Fadouba Oulare used to say : " I can't play a rhythm for you without explaining its meaning".
Learn all the parts of polyrhythms, how to feel them in your own body, make them work together, enjoy the shades of touch and magic
of sounds balance.
of sounds balance.
I use oral transmission and notation. You can record audio or video
at the end of each class.
at the end of each class.
Syntax
Music is a language which allows the communication process. For this to work, language is built on "known-by-each-other" rules.
How to call, introduce, stop, restart the rhythm.
How to follow or lead dancers.
How to follow or lead dancers.
Learn to feel the 2 measures cycle and more.
Feel the rest measure.
Feel the rest measure.
Warm up the rhythm.
Use of appropriate phrasing according to rhythm family and speed.
Use of appropriate phrasing according to rhythm family and speed.
Technique
To play easier, start slower. To save time and play better use
professional hands and arms techniques.<
professional hands and arms techniques.<
Learn and reproduce what other djembe players use when they play
will develop your rhythmic abilities, taste and self-confidence.
will develop your rhythmic abilities, taste and self-confidence.
We need to go beyond reproduction to produce our own djembe music. Understanding strategies is the key.
Improvisation
All of us tend to organize our skills to be as good as possible when it comes to
improvise and that's allright. Keep in mind improvising is an attitude. It's not only
about playing right but to create something unexpected and communicative.
It doesn't necessarily have to be impressive.
I use several practice routines to make you drive and experiment constructrive
sensations on this road.
improvise and that's allright. Keep in mind improvising is an attitude. It's not only
about playing right but to create something unexpected and communicative.
It doesn't necessarily have to be impressive.
I use several practice routines to make you drive and experiment constructrive
sensations on this road.
YOUR FAQ
1 - Sure. But sense of rhythm can also need time and practice to be revealed.
2 - It depends on you. Many people have extreme postures about the use of notation. It's just a tool. Don't under or over estimate it, it will help, but being able to read or write music will not make you sound better.
3 - Sure. In my experience all notation detractors were in fact slow or non readers at all. Djembe music is easy to transcribe because it's made of very simple rhythms fragments, sophistication comes from the way things work together.
4 - The fact is african rhythms are part of african culture. Because of the amount of informations integrated by impregnation it's a huge starting point when a native decides to really learn to play them.
5 - Most non-native djembe players live without it. But if you have the opportunity it will be an invaluable experience. So yes, it will increase your understanding, refresh your feelings and test your ability to express yourself in this context.
6 - In binary rhythms beats are divided by multiple of two. In ternary rhythms beats are divided by multiple of three.
7 - It depends on how beats are divided. It's not the lenght of a rhythm (beats number) which defines its binary or ternary status, it's the way beats are divided.
8 - It depends of your personal taste.You may enjoy djembes from different countries. It should not be too light and mounted with a goat skin. Don't over tune your instrument.
9 - First call it "coordination". Then as usual begin slowly, coordinating simple rhythms. With practice it will come up.